Neuropsychology is the speciality where psychology and neurology converge and studies the functioning of the human brain from a psychological point of view. Thus, neuropsychologist is a psychologist specialised in the functioning of the brain and the cognitive and behavioural processes that derive from this functioning.

Therefore, these professionals analyse and evaluate the effects that an injury, damage or abnormal functioning in the structures of the brain causes on cognitive, psychological, emotional and behavioural processes. Their objective is to work with people who suffer from neuropsychological alterations, detecting the pathology that may be the cause and offering a treatment or rehabilitation plan that helps to improve their quality of life or, at least, mitigate their deterioration.

Specifically, neuropsychologists study the correct development of higher mental functions, such as attention, learning and memory, language, emotions, consciousness, thinking and reasoning, as well as executive functions. The latter are complex mental activities necessary for people to plan, organise and adapt effectively to their environment. These are all essential functions for health and for achieving a satisfactory level of quality of life, which can be affected by neurological disorders of the central nervous system, the brain.

Brain alterations respond to various causes: cranioencephalic trauma, stroke, the appearance of brain tumours, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, etc.), developmental diseases (epilepsy, cerebral palsy, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, etc.) or chronic diseases that often lead to cognitive alterations.

Neuropsychologists can work in various fields: school and training, clinical diagnosis and rehabilitation, intervention in special needs population, scientific research, high performance in sports or in the workplace.

• Integrate the relevant knowledge of neuropsychology in professional practice, distinguishing the different profiles of neuropsychological impairment that may exist, as well as those of normality.
• Conduct the clinical interview, where in addition to symptomatology, specific aspects of the person such as age, profession or personality type must be considered.
• Establish the clinical diagnosis through neuropsychological assessment tests: memory, attention, intelligence, perception, personality, problem solving, reasoning, mood alteration, etc., depending on the case. To complete the assessment, medical tests to obtain brain images (CT scans, MRI scans), biopsies or genetic tests can also be ordered from other professionals.
• Design a personalised intervention programme, based on the results obtained, in order to reinforce, stimulate and rehabilitate neuropsychologically the cognitive or behavioural functions that are affected. This programme includes specific cognitive objectives to be developed in Occupational Therapy.
• Carry out neuropsychological rehabilitation and appropriate treatments, choosing the most suitable procedures according to the case from a wide repertoire of techniques, ICT tools and exercises.
• Monitor the cognitive-behavioural evolutionary course of the therapeutic process, assessing the rehabilitation and psychotherapeutic treatment and making the appropriate adjustments.
• Responsible for communicating and guiding the person, his/her relatives and the rest of health and care personnel who attend him/her, in the aspects linked to the diagnosis, the intervention programme and the necessary treatment guidelines.
• Coordinate with medical professionals in neurology, psychiatry, speech therapy and physiotherapy, etc., to detect and locate brain injuries and alterations that may affect the central nervous system.
• Promote the prevention of brain damage in programmes aimed at any of the multiple causes that can produce brain damage: traffic accidents, drug use, prevention and detection of strokes, etc.
• Participate in brain research. Cure and prevention are always based on research.
  

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Medicina
• Grau: Psicologia

Complementary training

According to the current Spanish regulation (Ministry of Health), neuropsychology can only be practised by those health professionals with "a higher level of training" such as experts in Neurology, Psychiatry, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and psychologists specialised in Clinical Psychology.

However, on the other hand, according to the Official College of Psychologists, the essential requirements for accreditation as a neuropsychologist are:

• Hold a degree in psychology.

• Postgraduate theoretical training in neuropsychology of at least 500 hours.

• Demonstrate professional experience of 4 years, equivalent to 4,000 practical hours.
  

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 2

Empathy: Level 3

Analytical thought: Level 2

Planning and organisation: Level 3

Team work and cooperation: Level 2

Healthcare

Working to maintain and improve health, as well as physical and mental well-being, is the primary interest of people who are involved in the field of healthcare. Some of the activities in this field include making diagnoses, prescribing treatments and monitoring illnesses and injuries. These activities also include the application of therapeutic treatments (traditional or alternative) with a view to facilitating the physical recovery of those being treated. To carry out these activities, one must have in-depth knowledge of the human body and medicine, in its various specialisations.

Social community worker

Individuals related to the social/community field have an interest in working to improve people's social well-being and quality of life, as well as enhance their integration into their social, family and/or work environment. The professional activities that are common in this field include providing special support and aid to people at risk of social exclusion, designing programmes and implementing resources for the social and cultural stimulation of an area, and acting as mediators for conflict resolution in family, social or interpersonal environments. These activities involve constant interaction with people in order to improve their psychological and social well-being.

Palliative care specialist

Clinical psychologist

Osteopath

Homeopath

Naturopath

• Work hours

  It is usually 40 hours, although part-time and variable working hours are common.
  
  

• Salary

  Gross annual remuneration usually varies according to experience, prestige and hours of dedication, and generally ranges between 25,000 and 30,00 euros gross per year.
  
  However, it is also quite common to work and be paid on a fee basis, especially in private centres. In these cases, the price per session of a neuropsychologist can range from around 40 to 120 euros, a remuneration similar to the amounts charged in other specialties of psychology.
  
  

• Professional category

  Technician